Electron and proton transport in biologicalmembranes

Bluelight-induced, flavin-mediated transport of redox equivalents across artificial bilayer membranes

This paper continues our studies of physico-chemical properties of vesicle-bound flavins. Based on previous results, an advanced model system was designed in order to study the mechanisms underlying bluelight-induced redox transport across artificial membranes. The lumen of single-shelled vesicles was charged with cytochrome c, and amphiphilic flavin (AF1 3, AF1 10) was bound to the membrane. Upon bluelight irradiation redox equivalents are translocated from exogeneous 1e-(EDTA)-and 2e-(BH3CN-) donors across the membrane finally reducing the trapped cytochrome c both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The mechanisms involved are explored and evidence for the involvement of various redox states of oxygen, dihydroflavin and flavosemiquinone is presented.

Reconstitution of photosynthetic energy conservation. II. Photophosphorylation in liposomes containing photosystem-I reaction center and chloroplast coupling-factor complex

Photophosphorylation has been reconstituted in a liposomal system containing reaction centers of photosystem I and coupling-factor complex, both highly purified from spinach chloroplasts. This energy-converting model system was put together by diluting the preparation of the coupling-factor complex with an aqueous suspension of proteolipid vesicles, preformed from photosystem-I reaction centers and soybean phospholipids by sonication. In the presence of reduced N-methyl-phenazonium methosulfate the system catalyzed photophosphorylation with rates up to 50 mumol ATP formed x mg chlorophyll-1 x h-1, which was sensitive to uncouplers and to N,N'-dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide. The properties of the system in comparison to chloroplasts is discussed.